SC raps CBI for tardy 2G probe

New Delhi, Oct 29, DHNS:

The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the CBI for its ''slipshod'' probe into the 2G scam, and wondered if Union Telecom Minister A Raja, who allegedly allocated the spectrum to select firms flouting norms, was still in office. The scam had cost the exchequer over Rs 70,000 crore.

“Will you take 10 years to complete the probe?’’ asked a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly to Additional Solicitor General Harenbhai Rawal who appeared for the CBI. When the ASG was explaining that the probe took time due to the enormity, complexity and volume of the documents involved, the bench interrupted and said, “Let us cut short (submissions). You are dragging your feet.”

“You (CBI) have not done anything. Do you follow the same standards in other cases? One year has (already) gone by,” it said.

During the submission of Prashant Bhushan, counsel for petitioners, the apex court asked, “Is the minister (Raja) is still continuing?’’ Rawal then contended the probe was on in right earnest and would be completed in six months’ time.

Hearing on Nov 15

The apex court adjourned the matter to November 15, as Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium was not present at the hearing due to ill health.

The Supreme Court is hearing a petition filed by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation, Telecom Watchdog and journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurtha, challenging Delhi High Court’s dismissal of their plea seeking a court-monitored probe into the scam by the premier investigating ageny.

The latest observations by the apex court has been taken note of by some Congress leaders, who want Raja, a senior leader of UPA’s ally DMK, to step down till the probe is over.

When asked if the UPA would now put pressure on Raja to resign, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, “We hope the government will take cognisance of it.”

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/108652/how-long-2g-spectrum-probe.html